Dr. Pitt and Gibbs looked at each other in amazement. Both men had been sure that Tony was on the verge of death. Dr. Pitt crossed the room and began checking Tony's vitals. Gibbs just stood completely frozen. Eyes shifted towards the ceiling. He wanted to run over and hug Tony as tightly as he could. Except he was just sure this was too good to be true. Not to mention his body was covered with burns and bruises from the fire.
"How... How is he?" Gibbs asked.
"His vitals are weak but they're there." Dr. Pitt replied.
"Is he going to make it?" Gibbs asked.
"It's still pretty touch and go and we are going to need to run some tests as well." Dr. Pitt explained.
"Okay" Gibbs replied.
McGee walked towards Tony's hospital room. Ducky was following close behind. He had already said his last goodbyes to Tony but didn't think he was ready to see Tony's dead body or to watch him die. So naturally he had freaked out when he and Ducky had been told to come to his room right away. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Gibbs standing outside the room with his head hung low and his arms crossed over his chest. He was sure that his brother and partner was dead.
"Oh Boss." McGee whispered.
"McGee" Gibbs replied.
"Can we see him?" McGee asked.
"They already took him." Gibbs replied.
"What? I mean I already said goodbye but I wanted to see him one last time before he was on Ducky's table." McGee ranted.
"No McGee he's not. Tony's alive but they had to take him back for some more tests." Gibbs replied happily.
"What?" McGee asked.
"Timothy I believe Jethro is saying that Anthony defied the odds once again." Ducky explained.
"Oh My God really? Boss is Tony going to be alright after all?" McGee asked.
"Well he is alive but I cannot promise that he will be alright." Gibbs replied.
"If he does end up pulling through. Will he be able to go back into the field?" McGee asked.
"I think I can get him back in the field." Gibbs replied a smile crossing his face.
"Can I go home and get some sleep?" McGee asked.
"Of course." Gibbs replied.
"Timothy would you mind giving me a ride home or are you too exhausted? Because if you are I can call myself a cab." Ducky asked.
"No it's fine Ducky I am actually kind of wired on coffee." McGee assured.
After Ducky and McGee left. Gibbs returned to Tony's room. He returned to the seat by his son's bed. His eyes fell on to Tony's empty bed. Everything was still so surreal to him. He was thrilled that Tony was still alive. It didn't surprise him though. Tony had defied nearly impossible odds before. Gibbs liked to think that every time he came through. It was from when he told him that he would not die all those years ago. When he was fighting the plague. Gibbs was sure that he would get the "Tony may not be able to return to the field." speech. He was determined to prove that wrong though. The door opened and Dr. Pitt and a few nurses that Gibbs didn't recognize wheeled Tony in.
"How is he?" Gibbs asked nervously.
"I have good news and bad news." Dr. Pitt replied.
"What's the good news?" Gibbs asked.
"The good news is that we will be able to do grafts from Tony's own skin." Dr. Pitt replied.
"What does that mean?" Gibbs asked.
"We will slip a balloon under his thigh. Then we will slowly inflate it and use the extra skin to graft over his burns." Dr. Pitt explained.
"Does this mean Tony will look normal?" Gibbs asked.
"Well he will have scaring but it won't be as severe as we had thought and the burns are on his arms and legs so they can be easily covered by pants and sleeves." Dr. Pitt explained,
"Alright what's the bad news?" Gibbs asked.
"Well it's not really bad more or less expected. We had to put him back in a drug induced coma. He was in a lot of pain and with the burns he has. We will wake him up when he heals a bit after his grafts." Dr. Pitt explained.
"Will he be able to return to the field?" Gibbs asked.
"If it were anyone else I'd say no but Tony I fully expect him to be back in the field in no time." Dr. Pitt replied.
"Thank you so much for everything Brad." Gibbs replied.
McGee unlocked the door to his apartment. Abby was asleep on the couch. She had a framed picture of Tony tucked under her arms. He walked over to her and gently shook her awake. She stirred a little and rubbed her eyes.
"Timmy?" Abby asked.
"Yeah I just got home." McGee replied.
"How's Gibbs?" Abby asked.
"Great" McGee replied.
"How can he be great Tony is dead?!" Abby demanded.
"Tony made it." McGee replied.
"What?!" Abby asked/
"He pulled through at the last second." McGee explained.
"That's our Tony." Abby said smiling
"Yeah it is." McGee replied happily.
Both smiled and McGee helped Abby off the couch. The two walked to their bedroom and held each other in each other's arms. As the fell asleep.
Jimmy was sound asleep in his bed when he heard his phone ring. Sighing he answered fearing it was Ducky saying he was needed at the office. For Tony's autopsy. It would have been hard enough doing Tony's autopsy when he almost died the million other times he had almost died bit now that he was the brother of his son. There was no-way that Jimmy would get through this without losing it.
"Palmer"
"Hey Jimmy it's McGee."
"McGee? Is Tony gone?" Do I need to get to HQ?"
"No Jimmy, Tony pulled through. He's going to be fine."
"Really?"
"Yeah isn't that great?"
"Yeah it's awesome."
"Well you go get some sleep Autopsy Gremlin."
"I will Probie."
Ducky smiled as he sat on the edge of his guest bed. He was sure that the next time he was in this room. He would be consoling Jethro through his grief. He was sure that this was Tony's last life but he had pulled through and that was the only thing that mattered.
"Thank you whoever is looking out for Anthony." Ducky said to the darkness as he stood to leave the room.
Jimmy smiled as he started to fall back asleep. His friend and whatever he would be considered. Was alive and going to be just fine. He was beyond grateful for himself, Gibbs, the others at NCIS, and most importantly Gabe.
"Everything okay?" Breena asked.
"Yeah it's great."
"What's happening with Tony?" Breena asked.
"They were sure he was dying but he's not. He came through." Jimmy replied.
"That's amazing." Breena said.
"It really is." Jimmy replied.
Gibbs put his hand underneath Tony's. He was amazed by what Brad said. Tony was going to have a lot to deal with physically and emotionally but he was alive and that was all that mattered to him. That boy was his world. He would have fit perfectly with his little family. Shannon would have simply rolled her eyes and said "You're just like you're father Anthony" and Kelly would have idolized her big brother.
"I love you son and thank you for following my orders." Gibbs whispered before falling into his first real sleep since the night before the explosion.
A/N: Tony lived and is going to be just fine. New chapter should be Friday. I think I am going to skip ahead a bit though. Just a few weeks though. Please review and thanks for reading.
